Pocket pyrophoric lighter



Aug.I 30, 1949. F. H. BOWERS 2,480,317

POCKET PYRoPHoRIC LIGHTER Filed March 5, 1947 l@ w. f

UNITED STATES PATENToFFlCE Y POCKET` PYROPHORIC LIGHTER k,Fredrick H.Bowers, Kalamazoo, Mich. Application 4March 5, 1947, Serial No. 732,388

This invention relates to improvements in pocket pyrophoric lighters ofthe cap closure type, having for an object to provide an advantageousand noviel form of snuffel device for the wick or burner of a pocketlighter, such, for example, as illustrated and described in myabancloned application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 602,086, filedJune 28, 1945, whereby with movement of the lighter cap to a closedposition with relation to the lighter wick and casing, a llame producedby the wick Will be instantly and completely snuffed or extinguished.

Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a snuffer devicewhich, with movement of an equipped lighter cap closure to closedposition, will be engaged over its Wick end and snugly contacted at andabout its free and open end with the top lend wall of the lightercasing, thfus, positively exclude air from within the same to eifect asatisfactory flame snulfing operation.

It is also an object to provide a snuifer device of the statedcharacter, having means for attaching and yieldably mounting the same ina lighter cap closure, whereby to ensure its positive and air excludingauto-adjustable engagement with the lighter top end wall and over andabout the wick.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a snuler attaching andmounting means of such construction and formation that the same may beeifectually and quickly, though securely, installed in and attached tolighter closure caps of somewhat different constructions and/or designs.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, I have inthe accompanying drawings and in the detailed following descriptionbased thereupon, set out one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings: y

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a pocket pyrophoric lighterof .the cap closure type, illustrating my improved snuifer devicemounted in said cap.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the snuier deviceequipped lighter, wherein 1 Claim. (Cl. 67-7.1)

the cap closure of the lighter casing has been moved to a partially openposition with relation to the lighter casing.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,looking in the direction in which the arrows point, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective 'view of the improved snuiferdevice.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, it will be noted uponreference thereto that I have shown my improved snuiTer device attachedor installed in the cap closure of va form of pocket pyrophoric lighter,such as disclosed in my aforesaid and identified pending application,which device, generally, consists of a casing I, a cap closure 12pivotally mounted on one end of a spring mounting bracket 3, as at 3',as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, to engage over andadjacent the normally upper end wall 4 of the lighter casing whereby tohouse or enclose a lighter mechanism assembly, generally indicated at 5,and the extended or exposed end of the lighter wick 6, this latter beingextended through'an suitable way provided in an intermediate portion ofsaid Wall 4.

The cap closure 2, whose cross-sectional shape and size adjacent itspoint of closure contact with the lighter casing end Wall 4,substantially corresponds to that of the lighter casing l, is ofv domeor hood-like formation, having a plurality of outwardly pressed ribs orsimilar portions 1 formed or otherwise provided in its normally forwardand free end.

It is usual and preferable that a suitable type of wind guard 8 be xedlymounted on an intermediateV portion of the outer side of the end wall 4surrounding the extended portion of the wick 6, for an obvious purpose.Y

The improved snuifer device comprises a striplike body of spring metalor other suitable material, indicated in its entirety by the numeral 9.As shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, the width of the strip-likebody 9 is such that the same is more or less closely received within theupper portion of the cap closure 2 and has its intermediate portioninwardly bowed or curved, as indicated at l0, the intermediate portionof said bowed or curved part being formed substantially fiat, asindicated at I I, for a purpose which will be presently described. Theover-al1 lengths ofthe bowed spring strip-like body has one oi.' itsends inwardly curved, as at I2, and outwardly flanged, at I3, while itsopposite end portion is somewhat similarly inwardly curved, as at I4,and is formed throughout its width, with a dished or transversely curvedange I5, whose transversal curvature is such as to permit snugengagement between the same and an adjacent portion of the pivotmounting 3' of the cap closure 2 on the spring mounting bracket 3.

A snuer cap I6, consisting of a substantially hollow cylindrical bodyclosed at its upper end and open and anged at its lower end, as at I1,is riveted or otherwise xedly connected to the lower or inner; side ofthe flatintermediate'gportion II ofi'the body 9,'asl at I8.

To install the improved snuier device in the cap closure 2, the springstrip-like body 9 is inserted into said cap 2, abutting its'closedfouter side, in the manner shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The lengthof the Lspr-ingfStriplike body 9 is such that the samesubstantially-,corresponds to, though slightly exceeds, the internallength of the cap closure 2. The result r'o'fsuch length and insertion,engagement is that the transversely curved-flange 'I5 -ontlie curvedend portion I4 of the strip-like body 9, snugly and more or lessbindingly engages withand about a portion of the pivot mounting V3. Theremaining and-anged end I3y ofthe vcurvedend -portion ,I2 of said bodyspringingly engages in-the adjacent or uppermost rib 1 in said cap ,2.Consequently, it will be understood .and appreciated'that the springstrip-like body 9 will'be securely though detachably retained within thecap closure:2 with the snuifer cap I6 downwardly extended 144therefromwith its lianged open end I1 outer or lowermost. The depth of bowing orcurvingof the-.intermediate portion of the spring strip-like body 9, asat I0, is such that theiflanged open yand lower end of-the snuier caplli-will be var-ranged in substantially the same horizontal plane asthatof the inner edge or rim of the capl closureY body 2. Thus, withdownward pivotal4 or swingingmovement of the cap closure'2, sayffromtheposition shown in Figures to the position shown in-Figure 1, the snuiercap I6 will be engaged overgand about the extendedwick endSof-the=lighterde vice. Itsanged openend I'I will-be-abuttingly thoughyieldably engaged withzthe adjacent portion ofthe lighter casing endwall'4, inamanner to-substantia1ly exclude the -a-dmission .of :airthereinto and about vsaid extended Awick e;r1d. Therefore, a ameproduced by the-'extended Wick end will-be promptly and fullyextinguished ,upon thedescribed swinging engagement of the-Snuffer capI6 thereover. .The springoryieldable mounting of the snuier cap I E onthe bowed or curved intermediate portion I.0 of the bodyaprovidesautoadjustability thereto, i. -e., .-when, its flanged open endII' isabuttingly engagedWithanadJacent. portion of the lighter, casingendwalMVsaid snuffel cap will be permitted to move slightly upwardly oroutwardly to compensate for this abutting contact with said end wall,and so, a positive engagement will be eiected entirely about its openend with said end wall 4.

If adjustment, repair or replacement of the spring mounted snufferdevice becomes necessary, it will be readily understood and appreciatedthat access to and removal of the same from the cap closure 2 may bereadily effected, merely by engaging and flexing one of its curved andflanged spring ends from either the ribbed portion 'I of said capclosure or from the pivotal mounting 3' therefor. Moreover, it will beseen that because :of the inherent spring properties ofthe body 9, itmaybe satisfactorily an'd 'conveniently installed in or attached tolighter casing 'cap closures of `fsomewhat diierent constructions and/ordesigns.

Iclaim; In combination with a pyrophoric lighter de- 'vice includinga'casing having an upper end wall, .-a wick in the casing having one endportion extended through an opening in the end wall, pivotalmountingmeans attached to and supported on the end wall in spaced relationthereto, and a domed closure cap pivotally connectediin-.proximity toone end wallxthereof lto said 'pivotal mounting means swingable, atftimes, `over, vthe upper end wall, said bclosure cap having aninwardlyopening pocket in its remainingendwall, astrip-like spring member havinganfinwardly bowed intermediate portion, theopposite end portions ofthemember being curved :'onfthemselves andinwardiy disposed, a snuffer capcarried on the inner side of said bowed intermediatemortion-.of thespring member; said memberlbeing of a length substantially`corresponding to the length `of the closure cap and being springinglyand-removably received therein longitudinally of thesame, the freeendof-'one 'oi-the member curved opposite-end portions having anoutwardly facing seat formed therein snugly and springingly removablyengaging a portion of said pivotal mounting means, and-,thefreeend oftheremainingmember curved .oppositeend portion having an outwardly extendedila-nge thereon 4spring-ingly removably engaged in-saidpocket intheremainingend wall of the closure cap.

FREDRICK BOWERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inithe iileof'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date :1,925,933 -Py -.Sept..5, 1933FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date ,-360,167 France Feb. 14,1906I792,2'70 France Oct. 14, 1935

